Black-Type Analysis: Hit Show Eyeing Dubai World Cup Double

Saturday, Meydan, UAE, post time: 8.45 p.m., DUBAI WORLD CUP SPONSORED BY EMIRATES AIRLINE-G1, $12,000,000, NH4yo/up, SH3yo, 2000m

Field: Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steal {Jpn}), Magnitude (Not This Time), Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}), Meydaan (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Imperial Emperor (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Tumbarumba (Oscar Performance), Walk Of Stars (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Heart Of Honor (GB) (Honor A. P.), Tap Leader (Tapiture).

TDN Analysis: A disappointing third to Hit Show last spring, Forever Young has another chance to become the first horse to complete the Saudi Cup/Dubai World Cup double, and should he do so, would take his career earnings past an eye-watering US$36 million. The 5-year-old was arguably short of peak fitness when defeating Nysos (Nyquist) in Riyadh six weeks ago and if there is improvement to come, it could be game over for his eight rivals. Magnitude has been the subject of glowing reports from trackwork this week and has races that would make him competitive with the favorite. Meydaan is the true X-factor in the World Cup, having defeated Walk of Stars by 5 1/4 lengths–with Tap Leader a further 3/4 of a length away in third–in the G2 Al Maktoum Classic over the course and distance on Super Saturday Feb. 28. –Alan Carasso

Saturday, Meydan, UAE, post time: 8.10 p.m., LONGINES DUBAI SHEEMA CLASSIC-G1, $6,000,000, NH4yo/up, SH3yo, 2410mT

Field: Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}), Ethical Diamond (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}), Giavellotto (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), Royal Power (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), By The Book (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), West Wind Blows (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}).

TDN Analysis: Rated the Longines World's Best Racehorse in 2025, the Aga Khan Studs' Calandagan heads a small and select field for the Dubai Sheema Classic. Currently on a four-race winning streak with the final leg a dominating win in the G1 Japan Cup, the gelding faces GI Breeders' Cup Turf hero Ethical Diamond and G1 Hong Kong Vase winner Giavellotto. Charlie Appleby's Frankel duo of By The Book and Royal Power could surprise, while West Wind Blows completes the field for Simon and Ed Crisford, who have enjoyed a solid Dubai Racing Carnival.

Saturday, Meydan, UAE, post time: 7.35 p.m., DUBAI TURF SPONSORED BY DP WORLD-G1, $5,000,000, NH4yo/up, SH3yo, 1800mT

Field: Ombudsman (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Gaia Force (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), Quddwah (GB) (Kingman {GB}), Elnajmm (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}), Fort George (GB) (Territories {Ire}), Make Me King (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Dividend (GB) (Kodiac {GB}), Andreas Vesalius (Ire) (Caravaggio), Folk Festival (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), Tumbler (Fr) (Kingman {GB}).

TDN Analysis: Brilliant on his day, G1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes and G1 Juddmonte International Stakes victor Ombudsman aims to dominate the Dubai Turf. He was a few lengths adrift of Calandagan in the G1 Champion Stakes at Ascot in October and has been freshened since. Three times second at this level is Japan's multiple group winner Gaia Force. He'll be stepping back up in trip for the first time since December of 2024 in the G1 Champions Cup. Quddwah turned in one of the most impressive performances prepping for this on Super Saturday, and he had daylight to spare in the G2 Singspiel Stakes at the end of February. Also of note is G3 Ras Al Khor winner Elnajmm, who held Andreas Vesalius to third earlier this month.

Saturday, Meydan, UAE, post time: 6.55 p.m., DUBAI GOLDEN SHAHEEN SPONSORED BY NAKHEEL-G1, $2,000,000, NH/SH3yo/up, 1200m

Field: Bentornato (Valiant Minister), Tuz (Oxbow), El Nasseeb (GB) (Profitable {Ire}), Lovesick Blues (Grazen), Midland Money (Shancealot), Dark Saffron (Flameaway), Nakatomi (Firing Line), American Stage (Into Mischief), Mufasa (Chi) (Practical Joke), Colour Up (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), Cats By Five (Audible), Khanjar (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}).

TDN Analysis: Bentornato should take all the beating here if he is able to reproduce the form that saw him post big-figure victories in listed company at Churchill Downs when first-up last September and in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint Nov. 1, when he had subsequent G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint hero Imagination (Good Magic) back in second. Tuz looks to become the first non-consecutive winner of the race, having finished a desperately unlucky third to Dark Saffron and Nakatomi in defence of his title last year. El Nasseem is another to note, having handed Dark Saffron a one-length defeat in the G3 Mahab al Shimaal on Super Saturday. Lovesick Blues makes the trip over from Riyadh, having ran home nicely to be fifth on the Saudi Cup undercard. –Alan Carasso

Saturday, Meydan, UAE, post time: 6.20 p.m., AL QUOZ SPRINT SPONSORED BY AZIZI DEVELOPMENTS-G1, $1,500,000, NH/SH3yo/up, 1200mT

Field: Lazzat (Fr) (Territories {Ire}), Reef Runner (The Big Beast), Lugal (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Cover Up (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), Great Wish (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Native Approach (GB) (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Marbaann (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), Run Boy Run (GB) (Rajasinghe {Ire}), Arabie (GB) (Dandy Man {Ire}), Monteille (GB) (Cable Bay {Ire}), Rayevka (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), Northern Champion (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}).

TDN Analysis: Topping the race on rankings is Royal Ascot topliner Lazzat, but he found Reef Runner too good in Riyadh when a neck second in the G2 1351 Turf Sprint. One of only six Japanese horses representing the Land of the Rising Sun at this meeting as the Iranian conflict continues, G1 Sprinters Stakes winner Lugal steps up after a victory and a third in the G2 Hanshin Cup and the G3 Ocean Stakes in December and February, respectively. Dual G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes victor Khaadem won the GII Woodford Stakes before taking third in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. A distant placing in the G1 Hong Kong Sprint did not deter connections from sending the 10-year-old gelding to the desert for his seasonal debut.

Saturday, Meydan, UAE, post time: 5.30 p.m., UAE DERBY SPONSORED BY JUMEIRAH-G2, $1,000,000, NH/SH3yo, 1900m

Field: Pyromancer (Jpn) (Pyro), Wonder Dean (Jpn) (Dee Majesty {Jpn}), Six Speed (Not This Time), Go Man (Fr) (Goken {Fr}), Salloom (Authentic), Brotherly Love (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}), Devon Island (Practical Joke), Rammaas (Speightstown), Union Security (Maximum Security), Duke Of Immatin (Gun Runner), Lino Padrino (Uncle Lino), Labwah (Charlatan).

TDN Analysis: Listed winner Brotherly Love is hunting for his first GI Kentucky Derby points in the UAE Derby here. Breaking 11th of 12 in the 1900-metre race, he will face G3 UAE 2000 Guineas hero Six Speed on Saturday, who carries 20 points already. Lino Padrino, who has 10 points for finishing fourth in the UAE 2000 Guineas, leaves from the rail. Of the two Japanese entries in Listed Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun victor Pyromancer (20) and Wonder Dean, the latter has accrued six points after running sixth in the G3 Saudi Derby.

Saturday, Meydan, UAE, post time: 4.55 p.m., DUBAI GOLD CUP SPONSORED BY AL TAYER MOTORS-G2, $1,000,000, NH/SH4yo/up, 3200mT

Field: Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Al Nayyir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Dubai Future (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Caballo Del Mar (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}), Sons And Lovers (GB) (Study Of Man {Ire}), Sunway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}), Epic Poet (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Burdett Road (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}), Ruling Dynasty (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Fairy Glen (Fr) (Farhh {GB}).

TDN Analysis: Multiple Group 1 winner Al Riffa aims to get his 2026 started with a bang and was last seen running fourth in the G1 Hong Kong Vase. Recent G3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy winner Al Nayyir is booked out in the parking lot in stall 10. G2 Red Sea Turf Handicap winner Sons And Lovers is stretching out another furlong here. David Menuisier's top-level winner Sunway has rounded back into form in his latest two starts in the desert, taking the G3 Al Khail Trophy in January and running second to Al Nayyir in the Nad Al Sheba Trophy in February.

Saturday, Meydan, UAE, post time: 4.20 p.m., GODOLPHIN MILE SPONSORED BY EMAAR-G2, $1,000,000, 4yo/up, 1600m

Field: Commissioner King (Commissioner), Banishing (Ghostzapper), Mendelssohn Bay (Mendelssohn), Generous Tipper (Street Sense), World Record (Gun Runner), The Camden Colt (Footstepsinthesand), David Of Athens (Nyquist), Zandvoort (Good Magic), Diamond Dealer (Lord Nelson), Hypnus (Into Mischief), Telemark (Night Of Thunder), Masmak (Vino Rosso).

TDN Analysis: Leading off the Thoroughbred action on Saturday is the G2 Godolphin Mile, and G3 Burj Nahaar victor Commissioner King faces off with the second through fourth in The Camden Colt, Hypnus and Telemark. G3 Firebreak Stakes winner Mendelssohn Bay had Commissioner King back in second, with Hypnus third, earlier in the season. Representing America is Grade II scorer Banishing, who is turning back in trip after failing to place in the G1 Saudi Cup over 1800 metres behind G1 Dubai World Cup headliner Forever Young (Real Steel) in February.

Saturday, Curragh, post time: 15:05, 1XBET.IE SUPPORTS IRISH RACING GLADNESS STAKES-Listed, €30,000, 3yo/up, 7fT

Field: Lord Massusus (Ire) (Markaz {Ire}), Ten Bob Tony (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Big Gossey (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}), East Hampton (GB) (Cracksman {GB}), Rahmi (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), Saracen (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), Princess Child (Fr) (Dariyan {Fr}), Wannabe Royal (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Albert Einstein (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Neolithic (Ire) (Sioux Nation).

TDN Analysis: All eyes on Albert Einstein, who win, lose or draw will probably still be heading to Newmarket as this is very much a starting-off point for Ballydoyle's much-revered colt. Giant's Causeway won this in 2000 in its original guise as a Guineas prep, but two years later a far speedier type in Johannesburg was outstayed by one of the older brigade. Closed to the three-year-olds for a spell, now that it has once again become an early avenue for them to sharpen up it has begun to attract some likely types. Another of the stable's sons of Wootton Bassett in Camille Pissarro used this as a launchpad 12 months ago and came up just short to Big Gossey and handily, that honest veteran is back again to provide some context. It is safe to say that only those closest to Albert Einstein know why he is here and what they are looking for in his performance. With the forward-going Neolithic engaged, we should be expecting a sound pace and if the favourite runs away with this all stamina concerns will evaporate as quickly as his ante-post Guineas odds. As an aside, this also sees the reintroduction of last year's G3 John Of Gaunt Stakes winner and Prix de la Foret third Ten Bob Tony and a fascinating Joseph O'Brien runner in Saracen, who hasn't run since the Jersey. [Tom Frary].

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